GM Scot McCloughan said the team's selection of wide receiver Josh Doctson should not be interpreted as a display of dissatisfaction with Jackson or Pierre Garcon. Assuming he remains with the team this season, it's worth noting that Jackson turns 30 in December and has missed eight games with injury over the past two seasons. The Redskins, like any other team, won't put their hopes for success in the hands of a player who can't be relied on. He finished with 528 yards and four touchdowns in 2015, but the simple fact is that he's not the ideal sort of target for Kirk Cousins. As FanSided noted, Jackson is a vertical threat at his best when he's able to go down the field. Cousins has never had the big arm to make such a weapon viable. He's much more the West Coast offense-type of quarterback. Cousins got Washington to the playoffs last year largely with Jackson serving as a secondary target in the offense. That's not going to change.

DeSean Jackson 2015 Outlook

As the Washington Post recently noted, with his blinding speed and wily ability to separate from defenders, Jackson represents the Redskins’ most explosive offensive asset. But he’s an asset that will be squandered if the team’s quarterbacks can’t connect with him. Timing has been an issue. Indeed, Robert Griffin III has talked about how tricky it is to gauge Jackson’s speed. Kirk Cousins, who took over for the injured Griffin in Week 2 last season, said much the same. Both QBs underthrew Jackson at times, not realizing that he shifts into a higher gear toward the end of his routes. It also took them time to realize that Jackson wasn’t truly covered when he appeared to be; the 5-10 Jackson could slip a defender if a quarterback would simply “throw him open.” Still, Jackson led all Redskins in receiving yards last season due in large part to his big-play ability. He grabbed an NFL-best 13 catches of 40 yards or more. Nobody else had more than eight. He also led the NFL in yards per catch (20.9). For that reeason alone, he’s of great interest to fantasy owners.

DeSean Jackson 2014 Outlook

After his surprising release by the Eagles, Jackson will bring an explosive element that the Washington receiving corps has been lacking. Jackson will join Pierre Garcon, Santana Moss and fellow free agent signee Andre Roberts as receiving options for Robert Griffin III. Remember: Jackson is coming off the best season of his career and boasts 356 career receptions, averaging 17.2 yards per catch. He has caught 32 touchdown passes. He also has three rushing touchdowns and four more on punt returns. The Redskins haven’t had a receiver average more than 17.0 yards per catch with at least 50 receptions since Moss in 2005. No other receiver with that many catches has even hit 15.0 per catch. Only two receivers since 2008 have averaged more yards per catch -- Vincent Jackson and Malcolm Floyd. And only Mike Wallace has as many touchdown receptions (21) of at least 30 yards as Jackson. His presence will only add to the playmaking ability of Garcon and tight end Jordan Reed. It won’t hurt Alfred Morris and the rushing attack any either. But all that is secondary to the bump Griffin gets. Fantasy owners should begin dialing up the expectations a notch or two.